In the Witness this week

SBOM approves new South Florida strategy Acts on Marriage Amendment, disburses hurricane relief funds Published September 29, 2005: EUSTIS (FBC) — A strategy to reach Southeast Florida’s urban areas with the Gospel, the allocation of funds to help Gulf Coast Baptists hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and a process to inform and educate Florida Baptists about the Marriage Protection Amendment were among a slate of business items approved during the Sept. 24 State Board of Missions meeting at Lake Yale Conference Center.

Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

Florida pastors Tim Phillips (l) and Darell Millsap (r), prepare to go into the village of Novo Airao with Lafayette Baptist Association DOM Darel Mitchell

Florida Baptists gain historic access to indigenous tribes in Brazil Gary Crawford announces plans for Amazon Vision Ministries to take medical teams to restricted & isolated tribes deep in jungle Published September 29, 2005: MANAUS, Brazil (FBW)–For more than 100 years Southern Baptists have been sharing the Good News with some Brazilians. For others, the indigenous peoples of the Amazon River Basin, all outsiders, especially westerners, have been told to steer clear of the tropical rain forest and its unspoiled populations.

Photo by John Swain/North American Mission Board

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers Tom Antonowicz, left, Interlachen, and Fritz Wilson, Orange Park, pull electric cable to power a Florida Baptist mobile feeding unit. Antonowicz, a member of First Baptist Church Interlachen, and Wilson, director of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief, are two of more than 6,000 Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers assisting Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita with services that include mass feeding, cleanup and recovery, shower trailers, child care, laundry, and communication.

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams deployed to Louisiana after Rita Published September 29, 2005: LAKE CHARLES, La. (FBC)-Two Florida Baptist Convention feeding units began feeding victims of Hurricane Rita on Sunday, Sept. 25 in Lake Charles, La., working alongside The Salvation Army.
Q&A with Thom Rainer, president-elect of LifeWay Christian Resources Published October 6, 2005: MARIANNA (FBW) – Four days after his unanimous election as the ninth president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Thom Rainer gave an hour-long interview to Florida Baptist Witness Executive Editor James A. Smith Sr. Sept. 16 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna where Rainer was speaking to a Sunday School conference.
SBC president hails CP task force report, cites importance of evangelism & CP for leaders Published September 29, 2005: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch is applauding a task force report that calls for greater Cooperative Program support from leaders throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.

Opinion

Editorial

Mark your calendars now; don’t miss the blessing JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: Florida Baptists have the unique opportunity to host and participate in two missionary appointment services of the International Mission Board in the span of six months. Having had the privilege of attending the Sept. 13 appointment service at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola, I can state quite enthusiastically that those who fail to take advantage of the opportunity of attending the appointment service next March in Tampa will miss a huge blessing.
Subscription rate increase notice JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: The Board of Directors of Florida Baptist Witness met recently and approved 2006 rates for our subscription plans, other than the individual rate, which will remain at $16.95 annually. The Local Church Edition rate will increase .25 per subscription to $8.25, while the Church Budget and Club plans will increase .50 each, to $9.75 and $11.00, respectively. The Local Church Edition rate has not been increased since 2001 and the Church Budget and Club plans have not been increased in two years.

Point of View

The ‘theology of presence’ during a storm JOHN SULLIVAN executive director-treasurer Florida Baptist Convention: For days an idea has been running around in my head searching for the finish line. It has come in spasms. Maybe it has always been a question begging for an answer and Katrina resurfaced it.
If you come to the Gulf Coast, plan to work from ‘can to can’t’ JOE McKEEVER Baptist Press: Several times a day I’m getting e-mails from people informing me their church is ready and willing to come to New Orleans to help a church rebuild.
The case for moral purity JACK GRAHAM Baptist Press: It’s not hard to figure out that we’re living in a sex-crazed society – one that operates much like an open sewer. It’s even been called the “new morality” by some, including ministers of the Gospel.
BREAKPOINT: U.S. to science educators: Teach the controversy CHARLES COLSON Breakpoint: It’s amazing how much brain-washing the American people can endure and still come out of it with their brains in good working order.

Cartoon

Cartoon JOE McKEEVER

Florida

Florida News

SBOM approves new South Florida strategy Acts on Marriage Amendment, disburses hurricane relief funds: EUSTIS (FBC) — A strategy to reach Southeast Florida’s urban areas with the Gospel, the allocation of funds to help Gulf Coast Baptists hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and a process to inform and educate Florida Baptists about the Marriage Protection Amendment were among a slate of business items approved during the Sept. 24 State Board of Missions meeting at Lake Yale Conference Center.
Florida Baptists gain historic access to indigenous tribes in Brazil Gary Crawford announces plans for Amazon Vision Ministries to take medical teams to restricted & isolated tribes deep in jungle: MANAUS, Brazil (FBW)–For more than 100 years Southern Baptists have been sharing the Good News with some Brazilians. For others, the indigenous peoples of the Amazon River Basin, all outsiders, especially westerners, have been told to steer clear of the tropical rain forest and its unspoiled populations.
Q&A with Thom Rainer, president-elect of LifeWay Christian Resources: MARIANNA (FBW) – Four days after his unanimous election as the ninth president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Thom Rainer gave an hour-long interview to Florida Baptist Witness Executive Editor James A. Smith Sr. Sept. 16 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna where Rainer was speaking to a Sunday School conference.
Orlando churches gear up for Luis Palau festival: ORLANDO (FBW)–Churches in Orlando are gearing up for the April 2006 Luis Palau Festival, and festival leadership has scheduled October meetings in preparation for the event. According to event organizers, the evangelist’s upcoming Florida festival has amassed more than 350 participating Central Florida churches and has garnered the support of the Greater Orlando and Seminole Baptist associations.
Seven-minute solution to reaching young, multi-media generation: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Despite many successful evangelistic events Woodland Baptist Church in Bradenton held for community children, something seemed amiss when it came to enlisting students to be baptized—until the church created a seven minute solution.
FBC announces August church plants: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 9 new churches in Aug. 2005.
ACLU seeks to keep Fla. marriage amendment off ballot: TALLAHASSEE (BP)–The American Civil Liberties Union joined other liberal interest groups Sept. 21 in filing a lawsuit against a proposed constitutional marriage amendment in Florida, seeking to prevent it from appearing on the ballot in 2006.
Sharing the Gospel in Brazil: A mission of love: AMAZONAS, Brazil (FBW)–The sounds of roosters crowing, boat engines idling and pigs grunting couldn’t drown out the sound of the Gospel in a small family village high on a hill overlooking the Rio Negro in Brazil.

Florida News Briefs

Conference calls for new kind of leaders
Ministers’ wife award nominations due Oct. 1

Florida Focus

Florida Focus

National

National News

SBC president hails CP task force report, cites importance of evangelism & CP for leaders: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch is applauding a task force report that calls for greater Cooperative Program support from leaders throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.
Executive Committee approves assistance for NOBTS: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, Sept. 20, approved a three-year freeze in the calculation of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s enrollment, allowing NOBTS’ 2003-04 enrollment figures to apply to Cooperative Program funding formulas for the next three budget years.
Solidarity & sacrifice mark SBC entities’ response to Katrina: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The chief executives of Southern Baptists’ national entities stood across the stage behind New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley to show their support when he reported to Executive Committee members Sept. 19 on the condition of the institution he leads.
Midway in life, she left Scientology to embrace Jesus: ATLANTA (BP)—Karen Pressley has heard it all before.

National News Briefs

Guidestone offers church budgeting resource, tips
Baylor pulls controversial Starbucks cup from university coffee shop
Screenwriters contest early deadline Nov. 25
Los Angeles home to most evangelicals
Correspondent chosen as featured speaker

Features

Hurricane '05: Baptist Respond

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams deployed to Louisiana after Rita: LAKE CHARLES, La. (FBC)-Two Florida Baptist Convention feeding units began feeding victims of Hurricane Rita on Sunday, Sept. 25 in Lake Charles, La., working alongside The Salvation Army.
Southern Baptist disaster relief expands to 2 fronts Baptists respond to Rita in Texas, La., continue to clean up Katrina in Gulf Coast: ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Southern Baptists are assessing needs and assigning mobile disaster relief units to areas of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana damaged during Hurricane Rita, while continuing to provide hot meals, clean-up and recovery services throughout the Gulf Coast.
Churches vow to adopt damaged churches: ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–More than 1,200 Southern Baptist churches have committed to help SBC churches in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The Adopt A Church partnership was initiated by the North American Mission Board the week after the hurricane destroyed thousands of homes and business along the Gulf Coast including hundreds of SBC churches.
Churches urged to show video on DR efforts: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist leaders are urging pastors to download a six-minute video highlighting Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts for viewing by their congregations this Sunday.
Church meets physical, spiritual needs of evacuees: ORANGE PARK (FBW)-The congregation at Ridgewood Baptist Church adopted 33 families evacuated from the leveled Gulf Coast area, and expects that number to grow to about 40 by the end of the month.
Projects allow children to minister in stressful time: LAKELAND (FBW)–Items lovingly packed in shoeboxes, Ziploc bags and backpacks are being rushed from Florida churches and Christian schools to those most affected by Hurricane Katrina. Children are participating in hands-on projects that not only help others, but also help themselves deal with the stress of catastrophic storms.
Florida churches continue reaching out: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–For many Florida churches and pastors, giving time and resources to hurricane relief is not just a practical fulfillment of God’s command to help those in need, but a personal way to help one family, pastor or church. Hurricane relief has become a way to return the favor for aid given during the historic 2004 hurricane season.
Storm stress and kids: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–In Surviving Storm Stress, author and Christian counselor Dwight Bain shares valuable insights in helping children deal with stress.
Hurricane Rita: Florida Baptist Respond Photo Gallery One
Hurricane Rita: Florida Baptist Respond Photo Gallery Two

Media Montage

Broadman & Holman releases the life story of C.S. Lewis: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BH)–C.S. Lewis offered the world Mere Christianity, The Screw-tape Letters, and most notably, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. To many, Lewis was a literary genius, but to Douglas Gresham, Lewis was “the finest man and the best Christian” he has ever known.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

October 2: Understanding God’s Eternal Plan Ephesians 1:1-14: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
October 9: Experience God’s life-changing power Ephesians 1:18-2:10: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

October 2: Are you saved? Romans 3:21-4:25: Troy Bush is the minister of evangelism and missions at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
October 9: Do you have peace with God? Romans 5:1-11: Troy Bush is the minister of evangelism and missions at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.